Microsoft explains why the Xbox One X does not have VR yet

The Xbox One X is the most powerful console in the world, but this year Microsoft chose to apply that power to more of the same – better and higher resolution graphics, rather than something completely new – VR, which already gained a lot of support on the Playstation 4, with more than 1 million PSVR headsets being sold already.

“We learned with Kinect and the Wii that just translating a typical game experience to VR is not a winning strategy. It’s the oddball VR-specific stuff that makes it sing. It wasn’t something we wanted to distract developers with this year.”

Penello clearly felt Microsoft should concentrate on more typical titles in their race to catch up with the PlayStation 4, rather than a niche such as VR.

He also did not feel the technology had mainstream appeal.

“Is it a viable consumer product? For a certain size of audience,” he noted.

That is not to say Microsoft is not bringing VR to the Xbox One X, and Penello noted “there’s still a tonne of experimentation in VR.” He just did not think it was something Microsoft needed to rush into.